The Election Commission has announced Aadhar-linking of its voter identity cards despite the Supreme Court’s reservations over the Aadhar card.
The Commission has written to heads of specific ministries/departments to ask all employees to access the National Voters Service Portal and link their Aadhar number with their Electors Photo Identity Card.
Error-free rollThe portal was launched earlier this year as part of the National Electoral Rolls Purification and Authentication Programme. Its main objective is to bring out an error-free and authenticated electoral roll.
A letter from Umesh Sinha, Deputy Election Commissioner, addressed to Hasmukh Adhia, Secretary, Ministry of Finance, sought the latter’s support in getting all employees under the ministry/department to link their Aadhar number with their photo id.
A copy of the letter has been forwarded to chief executives of all banks/financial institutions and insurance companies in the public sector; Executive Director, Reserve Bank; Chairman, National Housing Bank, Nabard, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority; and CEO, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority.
Record registrationsThe letter said the Election Commission’s initiatives had resulted in record registration of electors during the last three-four years and also record turnout in the Lok Sabha elections in 2014. However, two major challenges remained – facilitating registrations and ensuring error-free electoral rolls.
It is in this context that the EPIC data of a voter is being sought to be linked with the Aadhar number for authentication and removal of duplicate entries.